Bet Types
Singles
Single – or straight – bets are wagers on the
outcome of a single event or game. These bets are very popular
with novice bettors. A Point spread, a Moneyline, a Game Total,
a Runline or Puckline determines the wager. Simply put, the
team or event wagered on must win the game or event either
outright or by covering the spread. The payout is determined
by the odds posted.
Some basic rules:
- Wagers must be on the outcome of a single event or game.
- All single bets must lay 11 to win 10 unless otherwise
noted at the time of the wager.
- The point spread or moneyline may fluctuate at anytime
as they move with the bet, but you get the number at the
time the bet is laid.
Moneylines
The moneyline is the same as the odds to win a game or event,
typically offered in North American sports. It refers to the
amount you must bet to win $100, or the amount of money that
your wager will return.
Example: a moneyline of -110 means that you must bet $110
to win 100, while a moneyline of +110 would mean that you
win $110 for a bet of $100.
If a moneyline is posted, the lines may appear as follows:
- Seattle -160
- Arizona +140
By choosing either -160 or +140, you are betting on what
team you think will win the football game. To win $1 on Seattle,
you must wager $1.60. If Seattle wins, you get $2.60 back,
the $1.60 you bet plus the $1 you won. If you bet $1 on Arizona
and they win, you get $2.40 back, the $1 you bet plus the
$1.40 you won.
Pointspreads
The point spread on a game is a prediction of the difference
in the scores of two teams that are playing each other.
If you want to bet on a pointspread when teams are involved,
an example would be:
If you bet the -4 for Seattle, they must win by more than
4 points for you to win your bet. If you bet on +4 for Arizona,
they may lose by 3 points or less, or win outright for you
to win your bet. If the +/- 4 adjustment results in a tie,
the wager is push and you will get your money back. Games
featuring ½ point spreads will never push, and therefore
there will always be a winner or a loser in his bet.
Totals
The Total or Game Total is used in football, basketball, baseball,
and hockey. You are betting on whether or not the “Total
Points” scored in that specific game are going to go
“Over” or “Under” the number established
by the bookmaker. The total is set and periodically adjusted
to ensure that half of the people will wager on the over and
the other half will wager on the under.
The Over/Under is the combined amount of runs, points or
goals scored by both teams during the game, including the
overtime. The wager involves the bettor speculating that the
total score by both teams in a game will be more or less than
the line posted by the sports book.
Totals are used in football, basketball, baseball, and hockey.
The total is set and periodically adjusted to ensure that
half of the people will wager on the over and the other half
will wager on the under.
Parlays
Parlays – or combo bets – are a selection of two
or more wagering outcomes. In a parlay bet, all teams bet
must win for the play to be active. If any one team loses,
the entire bet is lost.
A bettor can combine different sports, point spreads and
moneylines in win/loss and/or totals betting. You may also
buy points in betting a parlay. If there is a tie or cancellation,
the parlay reverts to the next lowest number.
Some basic rules:
- In the event of a tie in a parlay bet, the number of
plays is reduced. For example, if a four-play parlay has
two ties, then it will become a two-play parlay and the
payout will be recalculated based on the new number of plays.
A 2-play parlay with one tie will reduce to a straight bet.
If a parlay is reduced to zero plays, the entire wager is
cancelled and the entire bet amount refunded.
- All propositions must cover for the parlay to be considered
a win (exception: ties reduce, see above). If any proposition
loses, the entire parlay will be considered a loss. There
are no partial payouts.
- Games not played on the date specified are considered
"No Action" and reduce the parlay to the next
lowest number of plays. For Example: A six-play parlay will
be reduced to a five-play parlay, a two-play parlay will
be reduced to a straight wager. Payouts are adjusted accordingly.
Teasers
Teasers are a selection of two or more outcomes in a single
wager in which either the point spread or total is adjusted
in the bettor's favor. Each sport has its own range of points
for teaser selections. A teaser adjusts the spread for the
favorite so that it decreases the posted spread, or conversely,
increases the posted spread for the underdog. If you select
a total, the adjustment makes totals higher-to-go-under or
lower-to-go-over.
If the lines you want to tease are Philadelphia Eagles +3
and New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts over 37, your
two-team, six-point teaser would be:
- Philadelphia Eagles +9
- New England Patriots/ Indianapolis Colts over 31
Both results need to be correct for this teaser to be a winner.
Buy Points
Buy Points refers to a bettor moving the point spread for
a given game in order to give up fewer points on the favorite,
or gain more points on the underdog. Bettors pay a fee –
often 10 per cent – for each half-point bought in their
favour.
Example:
- The Indianapolis Colts are seven-point underdogs. To
move the spread to seven-and-a-half points, you would buy
a half-point for 10 per cent of the wager.
Some basic rules:
- Points can be bought only on standard odds (-110). Point
buying is not allowed on off-standard odds.
- Wagers must be on the outcome of a single event or game
and all standard rules apply.
- The team wagered on must win by the point spread you have
bought.
Futures
Futures, as the name implies, is a single-wager bet on the
outcome of a game or event to be held in the future. For example,
the Super Bowl or the World Series.
Payouts on Futures depend on the odds offered by the house
for each bet placed. Typically, Futures are represented by
basic, fixed odds (although sometimes a moneyline or a multiplier
may be featured). The payout is determined by those posted
odds.
To calculate a payout, translate the odds (a moneyline such
as -110, -180, +140 etc., or fixed odds such as 3/1) to a
multiplier (the Payoff Price plus one). Multiply the multiplier
by your bet to determine the Payout or Win Amount (Payoff
Price plus original bet).
Some basic rules:
- Bets are on the outcome of a single event or game only
- The team wagered on must win the league or tournament.
- All wagers have action regardless of relocation or name
changes.
Props
A Prop – or proposition – bet is a wager involving
two or more outcomes not directly related to the final score
of an event. Typically, Props are not allowed to be placed
in any type of combo bet. In most cases, featured Props are
usually single bets only.
Example:
- How many passing yards will Brett Favre get in his next
game: less than 100; 101-150; 151-200; 201-250; 251-300
or 300+. There would be posted odds for each outcome.
Some basic rules:
- Player(s) in a 1 or 2 player prop must enter game for
wagers to have action.
- In a prop with 3 or more players, all wagers have action
even if a player does not play for any reason.
|
